Gypsum

Gypsum is an evaporite mineral most commonly found in layered sedimentary deposits in association with halite, anhydrite, sulfur, calcite, and dolomite. Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) is very similar to Anhydrite (CaSO4). The chemical difference is that gypsum contains 2( H2O) and anhydrite is without H2O. and Gypsum is the most common sulfate mineral.

The Main Applications of gypsum are in the manufacture of wallboard, cement, plaster of Paris, soil conditioning, a hardening retarder in portland cement.